Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Roadster 5 link rear suspension re-visited

That is a super update Richard.....I would like that for Seve'

Thanks Mark

Richard, many thanks for the photos and update

Fantastic post.....

Richard

I am pleased that you have a good result from the SSL work.

I am also of the opinion that although the ride comfort is improved , the most noticeable difference is the vastly improved turn-in with the SSL 5L on my +8.

It really does makes driving twisty roads so much more pleasurable, and that slight "twitch" that you get with the rear weight transfer on cornering hard (especially in low friction conditions) is eradicated.

OK the conversion is not cheap, but in my opinion well worth while.

One of the interesting things is the way in which this type of suspension keeps more weight on the inside wheel which tends to stop it losing traction in hard cornering.

I have had this setup on my ARP4 for 3 years or so now, after contacting Peter Ballard who I believe may have thought up this design. I initially found the ride choppy although do not remember it bottoming out. Peter sourced the short springs and some shorter main springs which I then fitted.

The ride immediately improved, as per Richards report, however I was having problems with bottoming out when fully laden with passenger and luggage. Having screwed the spring seats to the top of their travel and set the damping slightly harder when touring laden, this has largely been eliminated except on the worst of bumps. I think a slightly longer spring would really be called for, which would lift the rear of the car a little more, this is probably what is now being used, however I cannot be bothered to spend money and time for what would be a small and occasional improvement and am pretty happy with the setup as it now is.

Thanks Peter, omitted to mention that although very relevant. TBH I was expecting just an improvemet in the ride with a compromise on OE roll resistance. What I got was an improvement in both thanks to Dan's magic

In retrospect it has highlighted the front end stiffness now. Dan has just emailed me suggesting I fit the SSL kit, which I may now do if it's compatible with the AVO's I already have.

Peter Ballard was the designer of the SSL (previously Suplex) 5 link suspension. It was still in development when Morgan first saw it but for some reason or other they decided to develop their own design. I know that Peter did offer some advice as the system was developed from one version to the next.

A longer spring would allow an increase of the preload but the result would be a higher static ride height and the possibility of the suspension topping out on the rebound. As the spring rate would not change the travel, when hitting a bump, would remain the same. Because we had the same problem when touring I had SSL make me a slightly higher rated spring for our 5L suspension.

Richard

I can certainly recommend the SSL front kit, I suspect you will find it will OK-ish with the AVOs but perhaps better with a set of adjustable Spax specifically developed for this application by Dan and Peter , or the original ( to this kit) non-adjustable Bilsteins (which I have)

Despite my 3.7 being equipped with the 5 link, after only a couple of months I just had to swop the front to SSL, I had obviously become used to the front end feel of SSL for 5 years on the previous Roadster